Car brake



LA G. MILLER CAR BRAKE Feb. 8, 1938.

Filed Deo. 31,' 1955 gwventoz 0m 67.2116222911 Feb. s, 1938. 1 GyWLLER2,107,761

y CAR BRAKE Fied Dec. 51, 1955 1 4 sheets-sheet 2 Feb 8, 1938. l.. G fMILLER y 2,107,761

CAR BRAKE Filed Dec. 3l, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 gf] f 259- W55@ 'lllpll'uf@ i925@ I i |I v I n ,n

Lalli? 6i ffii/6I."

l.. G. MULLERi CAR BRAKE Feb., s, 193s.

Filed Dec. 51, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 the mine laws forbid a ridingoperator, one is stationed at a point along Vvthe track WherethePatented Feb. 8, 1938 PATENT OFFICE CAR BRAKE Louis G.. Miller,Bethlehem, lPa., assigner to Bethlehem Steel Company, a corporation ofPennsylvania Application December 31, 1935, Serial No. 56,920

32 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in .car brakes and is adapted moreparticularly for use in connection with mine cars'and for similar smallcars of this type in, whichA the braking `oi" the cars is handoperated.V .f

In the majority of mine tunnels on account of n room there isl a sidingonly on one side and the brakes have to beyoperated from that vside ofthe. car, andas mine cars; sometimes obtain a speed as great as miles'per hour Vin transit, and since car isl to be brought to a stop. Y

It is often found necessary, however, to 'set the brakesl from theopposite side of the, car to that fofy the siding but on account of lackof space between the car and the side of -the mine tunnel n there is;not room enough for this purpose, or in f. operating lever' can not bereached by the opercaf ator.

- The operator waiting on the siding by the track kfor the car to passmust grasp the operating lever of the passing car, and toavoid injury,he must runy along with the moving car, and pull the brake operatinglever at the same time, 'should there be any Wear in the loperatinglever ratchet teethor between the brake shoes and the wheels, either thebrake shoes would grip thewheel treads before the operating leverengages the proper ratchet tooth and then. slack off after the operatorreleases the operating lever, or the brake shoes. at their maximum.movement Would not have proper Contact with the wheels.

As this braking operation must be accom' plished not only on the`surface but in the darkened interiors ofthe mine tunnels, and when it isremembered 'that these operations of braking mine cars must be repeated'by an operatorseveral hundred times a day that the mechanism employedfor braking cars should be safe, sure ing'mechanism that is capable ofselffadjustf ment to compensate for any. slightdifferences in ylengthsof connections or unequal Wear on the brake shoes or blocks,thusfobtaining equal pres- -sure'of the shoes or blocks on the wheels atboth sides of the car.

Another object of my inventionv relates to a braking mechanism which canbe easily applied or released from either side of the car.

'A further object of the invention relates to the manner of actuatingthe operating lever so that the ratchet tooth will have properengagement with the teeth of the rack plates and will not slack offafter the operator releases the operating lever.

Another object of my inventiony relates .to the. manner of attaching apair of operating levers to the opposite sides of the end of a car sothey will each have a floating fulcrum connection. The levers beingconnected together above and below the fulcrum points by means oi"equalizing links, so that When Vone lever is operated the other will bemoved in unison but in the opposite direction.

Another object of my invention relates to the manner of operating therock shafts simultaneously or independently of each other so that thepressure of the brake shoes when applied will be fully equalized on thewheelsr at both sides of the car.

v The invention also has for its object a simple mechanism of thischaracter which may be easily installed onmine cars or the like of anyordinary or conventional type, the parts being strong and durable andnot liable to get out of order, and the invention aims to generallyimprove this class of devices and to render them more useful andcommercially desirable.

Having thus givenK ageneral description of my invention, I will now inorder to make the matter more clear, refer to the accompanying foursheets of drawings, forming a. part of this specication in which likecharacters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Fig. l is a side elevation of a mine car or the like with. braking meansapplied thereto embodying one form of my invention.

Fig. 2 is an end elevationof the car shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view through the end portion ofthe car taken on the vline 3 3 oi Fig. 2, showing the equalizingmechanism` applied thereto.

Y Fig. 4 is a detail View of one of the equalizing` rods.

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of a low level type of mine car to which amodified form of my invention is attached. K

Fig. 6 is a transverse section ofthe car shown of the bearings I9 and2Q.

in Fig. 5 taken centrally on the line 5--5 of Fig. '7. Fig. '7 is a sideelevation of the car with the modied form of my invention attached.

Fig. 8 is a detail plan view of the modified. form of my equalizingdevice detached.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail section taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 5,showing the manner of holding and releasing Vone kof the brake levers.

Fig. l is a detail view oi one of the racks and the adjacent portions ofthe device associated therewith, and Y Fig. 1l is a detail viewillustrating one of the tension springs and the parts connectedtherewith.

Referring now to the character of reference on the drawings, and rst toFigs. 1 to 4. The numeral I indicates a mine car of the four-wheel typehaving a door 2, side walls 3 and ends 4.

5 indicates the axles and 5 the'wheels mountedv on the axles. A pair ofbrackets 'I extendqdown- `wardly Vfrom the floor between the'wheelsfoneach side of the car, to which is pivoted as'at 8, the upper ends ofhangers S, having their lower ends pivotedas at I0 to brake shoes IIwhich are adapted to rictionally engage the tread surfaces y I9 and 2l)Vand are held against longitudinal movement bythe Vcollars 2l and 22formed integral therewith, which are adapted to engage the sides therock-shaft I8 project beyond the end of the car and are each formedwith'a crank arm 23 bent at right angles to the body of the rockshaftsand also at an angle to the crankarms I1. The ends of these two crankarms 23 are flattened and connected together by means of an equalizingdevice which is actuated by means of a pair of operating levers 24 and25 attached to the opposite sides of the car end near its lower portionby means of swinging arms 26 and 21. The top ends of each of saidswinging arms is pivoted to the end Wall by means of a bolt or rivet 28,While the lower ends of the swinging arms are offset and formedcylindrical vadapted to` form floating fulcrurn pivots 2S, for theroperatv ing levers 24 and 25 near their lower ends, which are securedthereon by means of a split pin 3l?.

vA short distance above the iloating iulcrum pivots 29 of each' of theoperating levers 24, and is pivoted, as at 3| the inner ends of astirrup 32, the outer central portion of each of which is perforated asat 33 for the passage ci an adjusting vrod 34 having a threaded portion35 provided with an adjusting nut 35 located within the stirrup. Each ofthe adjusting rods 34 has an extending bifurcated end 3l which ispivoted to the attened end of the crank arms 23 of the rock-shafts I8.

The legs of each stirrup 32 vare connected together at an intermediatepoint by means of a transverse plate 38 which has its ends weldedthereto and is perforated centrally as at 39 for Athe passage of thereduced ends 45 of the adjusting rods 34, and a helical spring 4I`normally Vunder compression is interposed between the ad- The outerends of centrally connect the operating levers 24 and 25 together. Oneend of each of said equalizing bars being attached at 3I, whilethe'opposite end is pivoted to the lower end of one of the operatinglevers at an equal distance below the :iloating fulcrum pivots 29 as at43.

Each of the operating levers 24 and 25 are provided with a ratchet tooth44 for engaging the teeth of racks 45.

Normally the tooth 44 of each oi `the operat-. ing levers will engagethe teeth of the racks 45. Y

When it is desired to disengage the tooth 44 of each of the operatinglevers from the racks 45 to release the brakes, the operator grasps thehandle 45 of a crank shaft 41 and swings it upwardly so that the cranks`48 engage the inner faces of the operating levers 24 and 25V and forcesY them outwardly, thereby disengaging the tooth 44 of each operatinglever from its rack 45. In this arrangement the equalizing mechanism isheld by the vsprings under compression and it is also desirable inassembling to adjust the rods 34 so that when the brakevshoesarereleased from the wheels the springs will be slightly compressed.

The operation of my braking mechanism is as follows: Assuming that theparts are in the position shown in the drawings, which is the posi-'tion they will assume when the brake shoes are released, and it isdesired to set the brakes, the operator grasps thehandle of one of theoperating levers 24 or25 and pulls it outwardly in the direction of thearrows as indicated in Fig. 2, until the brake shoes engage the wheels.In so doing it will be understood Ythat on account of the connectingequalizing bars 42 both of the levers will be actuated in unison but inthe opposite directions. I Y

In setting the brakes the springs 4l=which are normally undercompression may be slightly compressed but this is not necessary as thebrakes will be set properly by the movement Vof the swinging floatingfulcrum pivots without the springs, the prime object of `the springs 4Iare to vinsure the tooth 44 of each of the operating levers 24 and 25 toproperly engage the teeth of the racks 45. Y

If the ratchet teeth 44 of the operatingrlevers do not register withYthe teeth of the racks 45 when the brakes are set, a slightadditionalpull of the leverv will compress the springs 4I and i allowthe tooth of each operating'lever to properly engage the teeth oftheracks. During the setting of the brakes if both of the rock-shafts I8are rotated theV same angle of rotation, the

oating vfulcrum pivots 29 for the operating ,levers Vwill remainsubstantially stationary.

swinging the floating fulcrum pivots from left to right untilthe brakeshoes Von the left hand side of the car properly engage the wheels. Incase Iit the brake shoesV on the left hand side of the carengage thewheels first the floating fulcrum pivots for the operating levers willbe moved from right to left. In either` case the brake shoes will benally applied with full braking force Von all of the wheels at the sametime.

When it is desired to release theY brakes the operator grasps one of thehandles'46 of the crank shaft 4l and swings it upwardly so that thecranks 48engage the inner faces of the operating levers 24 and 25 andforces them outwardly thereby disengagin'g the tooth of each operatinglever from its rack 45, as indicated inA dotted lines in Fig. 9. Whenthe ratchet teeth of the'opera'tvinglevers are disengaged from theracksthe brake shoes will be release'd'i'rom engagement with the wheelsby meansl of the torsional force exertedon the rock-.shaftsv I8 insetting the V`v4brakes.` 'I'he helical springs 4l willat the same timeassist in swinging the operating levers 24 and 25 inwardly, providedtheyf have been fur- .ther compressed at the end of the brake setting f1 operation;- The'parts will then 'by their own acrtion be returnedy-Iigpv 2. r gfReferring. now to "the 1in] Eigs. 5j to 11V inclusive inwhichIs-have shown tothe position indicated :in

modification illustrated theequalizing mechanism is heldin-tensioniniIn'this -modication the r sameY operating lef rversl,' oating fulcrum-pivots;,therefor, .equalizingbars and release `crank shaft are'usedandl operated in a similar manner and the same ref- Vference numeralswill applythereto, and this'also j may apply to the carand the mountingofthe lrock-shafts and the `brake'shoes,v hangers and linkconnectionstherefor.; Inithis construction however,;the inner crank `arms 4.9,.v ofthe rock-shafts I8 extend inwardly Vinstead of outwardlyas abovedescribed,v andas ythis-is a low level car `the-upper `ends ,of eachpair of the adjusting linksoneachside off the car are pivoted as atY50-to the upper end of a clevis Vmember 5l while the lower rend oflsaid '.,clevis member is pivoted centrally to a5 supporting bar 52`havingone enddpivoted to a rib 53 eigtendingpfrom the carzrloor whilethe oppositeend I is pivoted to a 'pair of short links 54wnichf4 in turnare pivoted to the endof eachcrankarm 49.

'In this construction v`the 'innr endsfof the stirrup members 55 are'attached` with one end of the equalizingbars tothe. lowerends of5vtheoperating vvleversj2ll Aand 25 atfthepoints/g below the floating fulcrumpivots 29. Thestirrup fmembers 55 extend outwardly from the operating Qlevers and are perforated as'fatV 56 on'the passage of the ,adjustingrods` 5T whichrhave their y inner ends threaded as at 58and screwed intoa threaded opening in the central portion of a slidingplate 59. v aspring 65 interposed between'A :thevplate 59 and the end wall of thestirrup'. vThe extending 'ends r (,.rockshafts I 8.

fof the rods 51 are bifurcated'as at 6I and pivoted tothe crank arms 23onithvegouter ends of the ye manner voi operatin'glthisrnodiledform 'ofbraking Vmechanism is the same asiab'ove described. The operator pullingone of the operatfing levers toset the brakes and'then releasing thebrakes by manipulating the crankshaft. The difference being that *as theequalizing dicated in Figs. 1 to 3, and it will also'be noted that theinner crank arms 49 of the rock-shafts fl8fmust extend inwardly insteadof outwardly.

illustrated, I prefer toy usea pair of springs fat each end of theequalizing device to give the most satisfactory results, but I'maydispose the springs diierently oruse one springinsteadof two-if desired.

'The' operating levers' areusuallyrlocated'on i375 the trailer end oftheAcarffbutmy device.` could The adjusting rods 51l each have be'vappliedand operated from the front end of the carV equally as well, andalthough I have shown only one form of brake shoes and manner ofmounting the same, I may use other forms of brake shoes and mountingsthan the type shown in the drawings and obtain the same results.

Although I have described and illustrated my invention in considerabledetail, I do not wish to be limited to the exact and specific detailsthereof, as shown and described, but may use such modifications in,substitutions for, or equivalents thereof, asare embraced within thescope of my invention, or as pointed out in the claims.

f Having thus described my invention what I- claim as .new and desire tosecure by Letters .Patent is:

steadA of under compressionasfsabove described vl'.The combinationnwitha car body anda wheel at each side of the car, a rock-shaft arrangedparallel to land supported on each side of 'the car-body, brake shoespivotally connected to the rockshafts forr engaging each wheel, and apair of operating levers pivotally connected to one end of the car and.rbodily movable simultaneously for actuating the rock-shafts adapted toforce'the brake-shoes into or out of frictional engagement .with the'Wheels.

2. The combination with a car body and wheels .at each side of the car,a rock-shaft arranged Vparallelto` and supported on each side of thecar, brake shoes pivotally connected to the rockshafts for engaging thewheels, and a pair of operatingv levers connected together and pivotedto one end of the car and bodily movable simultaneously for actuatingthe rock-shafts adapted to Amove the brake shoes into or out offrictional 'engagement with the wheels.

Y 3.1 The combination with a car body and wheels 'at each side ofthe'car, a rock-shaft arranged parallel to and supported on each side ofthe car.

body, ybrake shoes pivotally connected to the rock-shafts for engagingthe wheels, a pair of simultaneously bodily movable operating leverspivoted to vone end of the car adapted to move the-brake shoes into orout of frictional engagement With the wheels, and a resilient connectionv between the operating levers land the rock-shafts.

f4. The combination with a car body and a Ypair of wheels at each sideof the car, a rockshaft mounted on each side of the car body, brakeshoes pivotallyconnected to each rock-shaft for engaging the wheels, apair of simultaneously bodily movable operating levers pivoted to oneend of the car adapted to move the brake shoes into or out of frictionalengagement with the wheels, anda resilient connection between eachoperating lever and one of each of the rockshafts. i

5. The combination of a' car body, vand a wheel at each side of the car,va rock-shaft arranged parallel to and supported on each side of the carbody, a brake shoe pivotally connected to.

-fulcruins secured to one end of the car and ymovwheels, a pair ofoperating levers having iloating able simultaneously for actuating therock-shafts 1 and adapted to force the brake shoes into or out offrictional engagement with each pair of wheels, bars having their endspivotally attached to the operating levers and connecting them together,and a resilient connection between the operating levers and therock-shafts.

'7. The combination of a car body and a pair o1 wheels at each side ofthe car, arock-shaft arranged parallel to and supported on each side ofthe car Ybody, brake shoes pivotally connectedto eachrock-shaft forengaging each pair of Wheels, a pair of operating levers having floatingfulcrums secured to one end of the car and movable simultaneously foractuating the rock-shafts to force the brake shoes into or out ofvfrictional enlevers.

gagement with each pair of wheels, equalizing bars connecting theoperating levers, a resilient connection between the operating leversand .the rock`shafts,-means for holding the operatinglevers when thebrakes are set, and .means for simultaneouslyreleasing both of theoperating 8. The combination of a car body and a plurality of Wheels ateach sideof the car, a rockshaft arranged parallel to and supported oneach side of the car body,.brake shoes pivotally connected to eachrock-shaft for engaging each pair of wheels, a pair of operating leverseach having oating fulcrum secured at opposite sides to one end of thecar, said operating levers each having a connection with both of therock-shafts, means when one of the operating levers is actuated forrotating both of the rock-shafts to force the brake shoes into or out offrictional engagement' with each pair of wheels, means for holding theoperating levers when the brakes are set, and

means for simultaneously releasing both of the (operating levers toautomatically disengage the brake shoes from the wheels.

9. The combination with a car bodyand a plurality` of Wheels at eachside of the car, a rockshaft arranged parallel to and supported on eachside of the car body, brake shoes pivotally connected to therock-shafts, a pair of bodily movable operating levers connectedtogether at opposite rsides of one end of the car, each adapted whenmanually operated to force'the brake shoes into. or out of frictionalengagement with the Wheels, a resilient connection between the operatinglevers an-d the rock-shafts, and means for releasing the brake shoesfrom the car Wheels.

10. The combination with'a car body and a plurality of wheels atv eachside ofthe car, a

rock-shaft arranged parallel to and supported on Y each side of the carbody, brake shoes pivotally connected to the rock-shaft,V aY pair ofvoperating levers each having a floating iulcrum mounted at oppositesides of one end of the car, equalizing bars connecting the operatinglevers, anadjustable resilient connection between each operating Y leverand a rock-shaft, means for holding the opu rbars connecting theoperating levers, means for Y 'actuating the operating levers in Vunisonin opposite directions, and a resilient connection between eachoperating lever and each rock-shaft. Vl2, The combination with acarbody'and a pair of wheels at each side of thecar, a rock- `shaft'arranged parallel to and supported on'each side of the car body,brakeshoes pivotally connected tothe rock-shafts, an operating leverpivotedto. each side of the'end of thecar body,

equalizing bars for connecting the operating levers, a resilientconnection between each operating lever and one of the rock-shafts, saidequalizingrbars .and resilient connections comprising means when one ofsaid Operating levers is manipulated for actuating both. of theoperating levers in unison in opposite directions to'initiallyrotatefboth rock-,shaftssimultaneously and then Yto rotate onerock-shaft Vindependently ofthe other rock-shaft.

V13. The combination with V.a car body and wheels at each side of theYcar,a 'rock-shaft ar- `ranged parallel to and supported on each side ofthe car body, brake shoespivotallyA connectedA operating levers inunison in opposite directions to initiallyfrotate the rock-shaftsVsimultaneously and then to rotate one rock-shaft independently of theother rock-shaft to set therbrakes.

14, Thecombination 'witha car body and a pair of wheels` at earch sideof the car,` a rockshaft arranged parallel to and supported on eachlside of the car body, vbrake shoes pivotally-connected'to therock-shafts for engaging the wheels, an operating lever having aiioating'piv-Y otal connection ,withV one end of Vthe car near theopposite side of the car, equalizing bars for pivotal connections andequalizing bars comprising means'when one of said operating levers ismanipulated forractuating both of the operating levers .in unison toinitially rotate both of the Y rock-shafts simultaneously and then torotate one rock-shaft independently of the other roclr-v shaft.

y 15. The combination Vwith 'a 'ear body and a .pairtof wheels at eachside of the car, a rock- .shaft arranged parallel to and supportedoneach side of the car body, brake shoes pivotally connected. to therocio-shafts for engaging the Wheels, an operating lever disposed nearthe opposite sides of one end of the car each having a .oatin'g fulcrumconnection with the car end land adapted to be actuated from either sideof .the car, equalizing bars for connectingV the operating levers at anequal distance above and .below thefloating fulcrumV connections of theoperating levers, a resilient connection between the .operating leversand the rock-shafts, said floating fulcrum connections, equalizing barsand resilient connections comprising'. means for siconnecting theoperating levers, said floating multaneously actuating'both of saidvoperating levers-in opposite directions by the movement! of eitheroperating lever to initially rotatethe rock-shafts simultaneouslyandrthen'if required to rotate one rock-shaft. independently Vof theother rock-shaft. Y.

1.6, The combination with a car body and a pair of wheels at each sideof the car, a rockshaft arranged parallel to and supported on each sideof the car body, brake shoesV pivotally con-` nected to the rock-shaftsfor engaging the wheels, an operating lever disposed at opposite sidesof one end ofthecar'each having a oating pivotal connection with the carend and adapted to be actuated from either'side of the car, equalizingbars"y for connectingvthe operating levers atan rock-shaft independentlyof the other rock-shaft,

and means for releasing the brakes.

, 1'7. In braking means in combination with a .car having wheels at eachside thereof, a rockshaft arranged parallel to and supported on eachkside of the car body, brake shoes pivotally connected to therock-shafts, for engaging the wheels, an operating lever disposed neareach sideV of the end of the car, a floating pivotal n connection forattaching each operating lever to the car end, equalizing bars forconnecting the operating levers, resilient means between the operatingleversr and the rock-shafts for holding the equalizing bars undercompression, means for holding the operating levers when the brakes uare set, and means for releasing the brake shoes from the wheels.

18. The combination with a car body and wheels at .each side of the car,a rock-shaft arranged parallel to and supported on each side of i thecar body, brake shoes pivotally-connected to thefrock-shaftsfforengaging the wheels, a pair of operating levers having floating pivotalconnections to opposite sides of one end of the car, means for actuatingthe operating levers in unison to move the brake shoes into or out offrictional engagement with the wheels', a resilient connection betweeneach operating lever and one of the rock-shafts, means for holding4 theoperating levers whenthe brakes are set, and

Y ientfconnection between the operating lever and the rock-shaft.

20. The combination with a car body and wheels at each side of the car,a rock-shaft ar- Y ranged parallel to and supported on the side of thecar body, brake shoes pivotally connected to the rock-shaft for engagingthe wheels, a bodily movable operating lever provided with a toothpivoted to one end of the car for actuating the rock-shaft, a rackengaged by the tooth of the operating lever, and a resilient connectionbetween the operating lever and the rock-shaft for holding the tooth ofthe operating lever in contact with the teeth of the rack.

2l. The combination with a car body and ab plurality of wheels atopposite sides of the car body, a rock-shaft arranged parallel to andsupported on the side of the car'body, brake shoes pivotally connectedto each rock-shaft for engaging the wheels, an voperating lever atopposite l J sides of the end of the car, a swinging arm having afloating fulcrum for attaching each of said operating levers to the carend, equalizing bars connecting the operating levers, a tooth on eachoperating lever, a rack engaged by the tooth of each operating lever,and a resilient connection between each operating lever and therock-shafts atthe side of the car for holding the tooth of each of the'operating levers in contact with the teeth of the racks.

22. The combination with a car body and wheels at each side of the car,a rock-shaft at each side of the car, a crank arm extending from theinner and outer end of each rock-shaft, brake shoes pivotally connectedto the inner crank arm of each rock-shaft for engaging the wheels, anoperating lever having a connection with each crank arm on the outer endof each rock-shaft, a floating pivotal connection between each operatinglever and the car body, an equalizing connection between the operatinglevers, means for holding the operating levers when the brakes are set,yand means for actuating both of the operating levers to release thebrakes.

23.The combination with a car body and wheels at each side of the car, arock-shaft arranged parallel to and supported on each side of the car, acrank arm extending from the inner and outer end of each' rock-shaft,brake shoes pivotally connected to the inner crank arm of eachrock-shaft for engaging the wheels, an adjustable rod pivoted to eachcrank arm on the outer end of each rock-shaft, a stirrup slidablymounted on each adjustable rod, resilient means on each adjustable rodwithin each stirrup for exerting pressure between each stirrup and theadjustable rod, an operating lever pivotally connected to each stirrup,a floating pivotal connection between each operating lever and the carbody, and equalizing bars having their ends pivotally attached to eachof the operating levers for connecting the operating levers together.

24. The combination with a car body and wheels at each side of the car,a rock-shaft arranged parallel to and supported on each siderof the car,brake shoes pivotally connected to the rrock-,shafts for engaging thewheels, an operating lever disposed near each side of one end of thecar, a iloating pivotal connection for attaching each operating lever tothe car end, equalizing barsY connecting the operating levers, andpivoted thereto, resilient means interposed between the operating leversand the rock-shafts for holding the equalizing bars under tension, meansfor adjusting the tension between the rock-shafts and the equalizingbars, means for holding the operating levers when the brakes are set,and means for disengaging the operating levers from their holding meansfor automatically releasing the brake shoes from the wheels.

25. The combination with a car body and wheels at each side of the car,a rock-shaft arranged parallel to and supported on each side of the car,a crank arm at the inner and outer ends of each of the rock-shafts,brake shoes adapted to engage the wheels having a pivotal connectionwith `the inner crank arm of each rock-shaft, an operating leverpivotally connected to each of the crank arms on the outer ends of eachof the rockshafts, an equalizing connection between the operatinglevers, said equalizing connections comprising means when one of theoperating levers is actuated for rotating one rock-shaft independent ofthe other rock-shaft.

26. The combination with a car body and wheels at each side of the car,a rock-shaft arranged parallel to and supported on each side or 'thecar, a crankV arm at the inner and outer end of each rock-shaft, brakeshoes adapted. to engage the wheels having a pivotal connection with theinner crank arm of each rock-shaft, a pair of operating leverseach'having a resilient connection with one of the crank arms ontheouter ends of the rock-shafts, a pair of equalizing bars for connectingthe operating levers together, said resilient connections and equalizingbars comprising means when one of the operating levers is actuated forinitially rotating both of the rock-shafts simultaneously and then ifrequired independently of each other to set the brakes.

27. The combination with a car body and Wheels at each side of the car,a rock-shaft supported on each side of the car, each having a crank armextending from their inner and outer ends, brake shoes adapted to engagethe wheels, each having a pivotal connection with the inner crank arm ofeach rock-shaft, a pair of operating levers each having a resilientconnection with one of the crank arms on the outerends of therock-shafts, means for adjusting the resilient connection between theoperating levers and the crank arms on the outer ends of therock-shafts, a pair of equalizing bars connecting the operating leverstogether, means for holding the operating levers when the brakes areset, and means for actuating the operating levers to automaticallyrelease the brakes.

28. The combination with a car body and wheels at each side of the car,a rock-shaft sup-v ported on each side of the car, each having a crankarm extending from their inner and outer ends, brake shoes pivotallyconnected to the inner crank arm` of each rock-shaft, a pair ofoperating levers each having a floating fulcrum connection with the carbody, a resilient con- Vnection between the operating levers and thecrank arms on the outer ends of the rock-shafts, and equalizing bars forconnecting the operating levers together. f

29. The combination with a car b ody and wheels at each side of the car,a rock-shaft supported on each side of the car, each having a crank armextending from their inner and outer ends, brake shoes pivotallyconnected to the on each operating lever,V racks secured' to the carbody for engaging the tooth of each operating lever adapted to hold saidoperating levers when the brakes are set, and a crank-shaft havingcranks adapted'when manually actuated to disengage the tooth ofeachoperating lever from the teeth of the racks to automatically releasethe brakes. Y

3G. The combination with a car body and Wheels at each side of the car,a rock-shaft supported on each side of the car, each having a crank armextending from their inner and outer ends, brake shoes pivotallyconnected to the crank arms on the inner ends of each rock- Vshaft, apair of operating levers, each having a swinging fulcrum pivoted to thecar end, a pair of Vequalizing bars pivoted to and connecting theoperating levers together, a tooth on each operating lever, rackssecured to the car end adapted to engage the tooth of each operatinglever for holding the operating levers when the brakes are set, aresilient connection betweenY the operating levers and the crank arms onthe outer Vends of the rock-shafts for holding the tooth of eachoperating lever in the desired engagement with the teeth of the rackswhen the brakes are set, andv a crank-shaft havingr cranksV adapted whenmanually actuated to. disengage the'tooth of each operating lever fromthe teeth of the racks to automatically release the brakes.

31. The combinationY with a car Ybody andV Wheels atV each side of thecar, a rock-'shaft supported on the carfbody, brake shoes pivotallyconnected to the rock-shaft for engaging the Wheels, an operating leverhaving a floating fulcrum pivoted to the car body for actuating therock-shaft, and. a resilient equalizing connection between the operatinglever and the rockshaft adapted to exert pressure on the brake shoeswhen the brakes are set.

32. The combination with a 'car body and a Ypair'of wheels at each sideof the car, a rockshaft supportedV on each sidepf thecar body,

brake shoesk pivotally connected to the rockshaftsV for engaging thepairs of wheels on each side of the car, a pair of spaced operatinglevers each having a lfloating fulcrumY pivoted to one end `of the carbody for.V actuating the rockshafts, equalizing bars for connecting Vthepair of operating levers together-,and afresilient connection betweeneach operating lever and one of the rock-shafts for exerting pressure onthe brake shoes when the brakes are set.

' LOUIS G. MILLER.

